ASYLUMS bring their madness to Hackney Wonderland.

It is Wonderland weekend in Hackney and as the sad remains of the Saturday’s cans and bottles scatter the venue streets, the people who bravely skipped Sunday dinner in favour of their dose of live music will soon get their ultimate fix.

In the basement at Sebright Arms Asylums are ready to hit the stage, and without hesitation they jump headfirst into their first tune.

The end of the first song already has Jazz Miell (guitar) turned into a human pretzel and his many bizarre moves seem to play a, if not crucial, then at least important role in the band’s dynamics as well as personify the real essence of their music.

Their debut album, Killer Brain Waves, themes heavily on the chaos and confusion of modern life, and Asylums do, in some way, incorporate this into their live show. With raw enthusiasm, heaps of talent and an incredible live presence the band definitely are 100% committed to their message. This band might be the best to emerge from Southend-on-Sea since The Horrors.

The track Monosyllabic Salvia is scattered with repetitive and energetic hooks, fuzzy rock riffs and a tint of grungy nostalgia. Asylums know how to do their thing whilst still, constantly, capturing your attention. The 90s vibes are reinforced by Jazz sporting a shirt from the classic movie “Clueless”.

Luke Branch’s vocals tie the performance together and shine especially bright during the band’s single Joy In A Small Wage, “you’ll never have what we have” – they sing, and it’s true. Asylums have something great going for them and judging by the lame tune up they are probably one of Hackney Wonderland’s most underappreciated performers.

Mister chaos himself, Jazz, contrasting the more stoic nature of bassist Michael Webster, making the Asylums’ stage dynamic a rather interesting one. Following song Wet Dream Fanzine sends the room spinning with their self-proclaimed ‘nostalgia pollution’.

The 30 minute set tonight is an upbeat dream of a garage rock gig. The two guitars layer amazingly noisy and Henry Tyler’s percussion work neatly keeps a red string in the middle of all the chaos.

Lacing in the intro of The Lion Sleeps Tonight, I am slightly confused to what is coming next, but fear not. We are not here to sing Disney tunes, though Asylums probably would make them sound amazing. In spite of Luke’s disclaimer that “we haven’t played in like 3 weeks so it might be a bit rusty”, this does not show as the band heads into Missing Persons, an absolute killer tune, possibly one of their best live tracks.

With a short, “See you” Asylums round off the set as they started, with an absolutely wrecking blast, and we definitely hope to see them again soon.

Photos: Aurora Henni Krogh